Queensland Boat Licence Practice Test 2026: Practice test 2

Practice test 2 of 3 for the Queensland Boat Licence Practice Test: 25 more questions with answers and explanations.

Boating
Queensland
90 questions
Checked October 11, 2026

Question 1 of 25
You are heading into a harbour, in the direction of buoyage. Which side of your boat should this mark be on?
- On your port (left) side
- On your starboard (right) side
- Stay at least 100 metres away on the north side
- Pass it on either side
Show answer
Answer: B. On your starboard (right) side
This is a green starboard-hand mark. Under IALA A, keep green marks on your starboard side when entering a harbour.
Question 2 of 25
What lights may a power boat under 12 metres show when underway at night, instead of separate masthead and stern lights?
- Only a red and a green light
- One all-round white light plus sidelights
- Two all-round red lights
- Flashing yellow lights
Show answer
Answer: B. One all-round white light plus sidelights
A power-driven vessel under 12 metres may combine the masthead and stern lights into one all-round white light, plus sidelights.
Question 3 of 25
What colours are cardinal marks painted?
- Black and red
- Red and white
- Green and white
- Black and yellow
Show answer
Answer: D. Black and yellow
All cardinal marks use black and yellow bands. The topmark cones and the order of colours show which side is safe.
Question 4 of 25
When must vessels show navigation lights?
- Only when other boats are nearby
- Only after midnight
- Only on coastal waters
- From sunset to sunrise and in restricted visibility
Show answer
Answer: D. From sunset to sunrise and in restricted visibility
Navigation lights must be shown between sunset and sunrise, and also by day in restricted visibility such as fog or heavy rain.
Question 5 of 25
Where is the safest water when you see this mark?
- To the east of the mark
- To the south of the mark
- Between the mark and the shore
- To the west of the mark
Show answer
Answer: D. To the west of the mark
This is a west cardinal mark: the cones point towards each other, yellow with a black band. Pass to the west.
Question 6 of 25
Where is the safest water when you see this mark?
- All around the mark
- To the south of the mark
- To the north of the mark
- Only on its east side
Show answer
Answer: C. To the north of the mark
This is a north cardinal mark: two black cones pointing up, black above yellow. Safe water is to the north.
Question 7 of 25
How often must you renew the AMSA registration of your EPIRB?
- Every time you go out to sea
- Every 2 years, or sooner if your details change
- Every 10 years
- Only once, when you buy it
Show answer
Answer: B. Every 2 years, or sooner if your details change
EPIRBs must be registered with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). Registration is free and must be renewed every two years.
Question 8 of 25
What does two short blasts on the horn mean?
- I am altering my course to starboard
- I am at anchor
- I intend to overtake you
- I am altering my course to port
Show answer
Answer: D. I am altering my course to port
Two short blasts mean 'I am altering my course to port'.
Question 9 of 25
Another vessel gives at least five short, rapid blasts. What does it mean?
- It doubts that you are taking enough action to avoid a collision
- It is a fishing vessel hauling nets
- It is altering course to port
- It is about to anchor
Show answer
Answer: A. It doubts that you are taking enough action to avoid a collision
Five or more short, rapid blasts is the doubt or warning signal. Check the situation and act to avoid a collision.
Question 10 of 25
What light must a small vessel at anchor show at night?
- No light is needed
- An all-round white light where it can best be seen
- Red and green sidelights
- A flashing yellow light
Show answer
Answer: B. An all-round white light where it can best be seen
A vessel at anchor shows an all-round white light. Larger vessels show two.
Question 11 of 25
At night you see a white masthead light and a red sidelight on your starboard bow. The bearing is not changing. What should you do?
- Hold your course and speed
- Give way: slow down or turn to starboard and pass behind it
- Turn to port and cross ahead of it
- Flash your lights and keep going
Show answer
Answer: B. Give way: slow down or turn to starboard and pass behind it
Seeing its red (port) light means the vessel is crossing from your right. You are the give-way vessel and should pass behind it.
Question 12 of 25
What topmark may a starboard-hand lateral mark have under IALA A?
- A single red can (cylinder)
- Two black balls
- A single green cone pointing up
- A yellow X
Show answer
Answer: C. A single green cone pointing up
Starboard-hand marks are green and may carry a single green cone, point up. Port-hand marks may carry a red can shape.
Question 13 of 25
Someone falls overboard. What should you do first?
- Turn sharply towards them at full speed
- Call the person's family
- Drop the anchor
- Shout 'man overboard', keep pointing at the person and keep them in sight
Show answer
Answer: D. Shout 'man overboard', keep pointing at the person and keep them in sight
Raise the alarm and keep one person watching and pointing at the person in the water while you turn the boat carefully to return.
Question 14 of 25
Which of these does NOT change what a safe speed is?
- How quickly your boat can stop and turn
- How many other vessels are nearby
- The colour of your boat
- How far you can see
Show answer
Answer: C. The colour of your boat
Safe speed depends on visibility, traffic, how your boat handles, wind, waves, current and nearby hazards. The colour of the boat has no effect.
Question 15 of 25
What does this red and white striped mark tell you?
- You must stop and wait
- There is safe, navigable water all around it
- It marks the edge of a marine park
- There is a danger directly under it
Show answer
Answer: B. There is safe, navigable water all around it
A safe water mark has red and white vertical stripes and may have a single red ball on top. It often marks the middle of a channel or the approach from sea.
Question 16 of 25
What kind of action should a give-way vessel take to avoid a collision?
- Early and large enough that the other skipper can clearly see it
- Speed up and cross ahead
- A series of small course changes
- Last-second action so you do not confuse anyone
Show answer
Answer: A. Early and large enough that the other skipper can clearly see it
Action to avoid a collision should be early, positive and large enough to be obvious. Small changes one after another are hard to see.
Question 17 of 25
You are the stand-on vessel. What should you normally do?
- Keep your course and speed, but act to avoid a collision if the give-way vessel does not
- Stop your engine straight away
- Speed up to get past quickly
- Turn to port to make room
Show answer
Answer: A. Keep your course and speed, but act to avoid a collision if the give-way vessel does not
The stand-on vessel holds its course and speed so the other skipper can predict its path. If a collision cannot be avoided by the give-way vessel alone, it must act too.
Question 18 of 25
How can you tell there is a risk of collision with an approaching vessel?
- It is a sailing vessel
- It shows a white light
- Its compass bearing stays about the same while the distance gets smaller
- It is moving faster than you
Show answer
Answer: C. Its compass bearing stays about the same while the distance gets smaller
If the bearing of an approaching vessel does not change much while it gets closer, you are on a collision course.
Question 19 of 25
Where should you drive a small boat in a narrow channel?
- In the middle of the channel
- Anywhere, as long as you sound your horn
- As near to the starboard (right) side of the channel as is safe
- On the port (left) side of the channel
Show answer
Answer: C. As near to the starboard (right) side of the channel as is safe
Collision rule 9 says to keep near the outer limit of a narrow channel on your starboard side, as far as is safe.
Question 20 of 25
When must the skipper keep a proper lookout?
- Only at night
- At all times, by sight and hearing
- Only when visibility is poor
- Only in busy channels
Show answer
Answer: B. At all times, by sight and hearing
Collision rule 5 says every vessel must keep a proper lookout at all times, using sight, hearing and any other available means.
Question 21 of 25
Two sailing vessels meet, with the wind on different sides. Which one gives way?
- The one that is further upwind
- The one with the wind on its port side
- The larger yacht
- The one with the wind on its starboard side
Show answer
Answer: B. The one with the wind on its port side
When the wind is on different sides, the vessel on port tack (wind on its port side) keeps out of the way.
Question 22 of 25
You are leaving a harbour and heading out to sea. Where should the red port-hand marks be?
- Red marks only apply when entering
- On your port (left) side
- On your starboard (right) side
- Directly behind you
Show answer
Answer: C. On your starboard (right) side
Marks are laid for vessels entering. When you head out to sea, everything is reversed, so red marks are on your starboard side.
Question 23 of 25
When should you use a PAN-PAN radio call?
- To check your radio works
- When someone is drowning
- For an urgent problem that is not yet life-threatening, such as engine failure
- To report the weather
Show answer
Answer: C. For an urgent problem that is not yet life-threatening, such as engine failure
PAN-PAN is the urgency call. Use it for an urgent situation where there is no immediate danger to life.
Question 24 of 25
A trawler is fishing with nets. You are in a power boat. What must you do?
- Keep out of its way
- Expect it to move out of your way
- Pass close astern over its nets
- Sound five short blasts and hold course
Show answer
Answer: A. Keep out of its way
Power-driven and sailing vessels must keep out of the way of vessels engaged in fishing with nets, lines or trawls that restrict their movement.
Question 25 of 25
A large ship can only move safely inside a narrow channel. What must a small recreational boat do?
- Keep out of its way and not impede its passage
- Hold course, because small boats always have right of way
- Anchor in the channel until it passes
- Cross close ahead of it to show your intentions
Show answer
Answer: A. Keep out of its way and not impede its passage
Vessels under 20 metres and sailing vessels must not impede a vessel that can only navigate safely within a narrow channel.

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